Phelps, William Wines, 1792-1872
Dates
- Existence: 1792 - 1872
Biographical History
William Wines Phelps (1792-1872) was a publisher, scribe, and pioneer.
William Wines (W. W.) Phelps was born on February 17, 1792, in Hanover, New Jersey, to Enon Phelps and Mehitable Goldsmith. He married Sally Waterman on April 28, 1815, in Smyrna, New York. In June 1831, he traveled to Kirtland, Ohio, met the Prophet Joseph Smith, and was baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1832 he moved to Jackson County, Missouri, and began publishing the Church's first periodical, the "Evening and the Morning Star". However, mobs attacked his house and destroyed his printing equipment. Phelps eventually had to escape Jackson County into Clay County and was later called to work in Kirtland.
In 1835, the Church purchased Egyptian mummies and papyrus from Michael H. Chandler; Phelps acted as a scribe for Joseph Smith while the latter translated the manuscripts into what we now know as the Pearl of Great Price. In 1838 Church authorities accused Phelps of reneging on a financial deal for building a temple in Missouri and they excommunicated Phelps. However, he was rebaptized two days later and he regained full membership two years later and was sent on a mission to the eastern United States. He also married two more wives: Laura Stowell and Elizabeth Dunn. After Joseph Smith died in 1844, Phelps embarked on the trek to the West and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1848. In Utah, he was a member of the Utah legislature and an almanac maker.
Phelps died on March 7, 1872, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Citation:
Phelps Family History, via WWW, March 27, 2014 (Enon Phelps and Mehitable Goldsmith; married Sally Waterman on April 28, 1815, in Smyrna, New York; June 1831, he traveled to Kirtland, Ohio; baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on June 10, 1831; 1832 he moved to Jackson County, Missouri; publishing "Evening and the Morning Star"; mobs attacked his house and destroyed his printing equipment. Phelps eventually had to escape Jackson County into Clay County and was later called to work in Kirtland; scribe for Joseph Smith; In 1838 Church authorities accused Phelps of reneging on a financial deal for building a temple in Missouri and they excommunicated Phelps; regained full membership 1840 and was sent on a mission to the Eastern States; two more wives: Laura Stowell and Elizabeth Dunn; Phelps went on trek to the West and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1848; a member of the Utah legislature and an almanac maker)Praise to the man, 1997: CIP galley (William Wines Phelps, pioneer; b. Feb. 17, 1792, Hanover, Morris Co., N.J.; d. 1872, Salt Lake City, Utah)
Light on free masonry, 1869: p. viii, 318 (W.W. Phelps)
Found in 31 Collections and/or Records:
Kirtland Council minute book
Henry W. Lawrence papers
Collection consists of letters, deeds, legal papers, and other materials collected by Lawrence through his business dealings. These include the estate papers of William W. Phelps, Heber C. Kimball, Julia Kimball, as well as miscellaneous legal papers relating to Henry W. Lawrence, and the legal papers relating to the property dispute case of William H. Folsom vs. Thomas Fitch (1881).
Utah laws and a constitution
Handwritten laws and the "Constitution of the State of Deseret" dated 1849. The laws include an act relating to divorce, a resolution on judicial districts in Utah, policies relating to the water of Mill Creek Canyon and ferries in Idaho, and a statement of the expenses of locating government in Utah. The items were signed by important Utah politicians including Brigham Young, Willard Richards, and William W. Phelps.
W. W. Phelps, Willard Richards, and Brigham Young legal act
Handwritten legislative act from Utah dated March 1, 1852. The item is signed by W. W. Phelps, Willard Richards, and Brigham Young. The act declares it to be unlawful to "use with disrespect the name of the deity," use unnecessary cruelty upon animals, and to be intoxicated in public. The item also declares that the breaking of these laws is to be punishable by a monetary fine or by a period of hard labor.
W. W. Phelps, Willard Richards, and Brigham Young legislative act
Handwritten and signed legislative act in relation to road tax and supervision. The act is signed by W. W. Phelps, Willard Richards, and Brigham Young.
A memorial to Congress for the construction of a great national central railroad
Handwritten legislative motion passed by the Utah territorial legislature on 3 March 1852. The item was signed by Brigham Young (1801-1877), "governor;" Willard Richards (1804-1854), "Pres. of the Council;" and William W. Phelps (1792-1872), "Speaker of the House of Rep." The measure requests that the federal government build a railroad across the United States.
A memorial to Congress for the extension of the legislative to 90 days
Handwritten legislative appeal to the United States congress to extend a legislative session. The item was signed by Brigham Young (1801-1877), "Governor" ; Willard Richards (1804-1854), "President of the Council" ; and William W. Phelps (1792-1872), "speaker of the House of Rep." The item is dated 3 March 1852.
Per diem receipt
Handwritten per diem receipt dated 20 February 1852 signed by W. W. Phelps and Albert Carrington. The receipt is for Albert Rockwood's attendance at the 1851-1852 Utah Territaorial Legislature.
Brigham Young, William Wines Phelps and Willard Richards petition to Congress
Handwritten petition to the Congress of the United States for an appropriation of sixty-thousand dollars for the erection of a territorial prison in Utah. The item is signed by W. W. Phelps, Willard Richards, and Brigham Young. The petition states that the prison is needed because of "multiplied crimes and offenses which demand the retribution of imprisonment."
Phelps family correspondence, 1835-1853
Contains letters received by William Wines Phelps from other members of the Phelps family such as Phelps' wife Sally, sons William and James. Includes information on the activities of family members. Materials dated from 1835 to approximately 1853.